Foreign office minister visits Bahrain

Hugh Robertson underlines UK support for reform programme in Bahrain and importance of work to improve human rights.
Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, Hugh Robertson, yesterday visited Bahrain for the third meeting of the UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group. Commenting at the end of his visit, Mr Robertson said:
“It was a pleasure to make my first visit to Bahrain as Minister for the Middle East. I was struck by the warmth of the long-standing friendship between our two countries. During a productive meeting of the Joint Working Group we agreed that the UK would continue to provide support to Bahrain’s reform programme, with particular focus on strengthening human rights and the rule of law – where there is still much to be done. I was pleased to see that UK expertise is helping to make a real difference, particularly on the creation of a Police Ombudsman and a new Independent Prisoners and Detainees Commission.”